Overseas Korean Nurses Association Conference Features University of Phoenix Nurse Leaders

Several University of Phoenix nurse leaders were among the featured speakers at the Sixth  General Assembly and Conference of the Overseas Korean Nurses Association held in Phoenix  on October 22-23. The gathering was the first the group has held since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the theme of the conference was fittingly titled “Superheroes: Rising Above the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

A Life Dedicated to Care: Sun Jones, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Sun Jones, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, the current president of the Overseas Korean Nurses Association who serves as the Systematic Plan for Evaluation and Curriculum Leader at University of Phoenix. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, Jones led an effort to secure 20,000 surgical masks for frontline nurses from the Korean Nurses Association in South Korea.

Jones, who gave the closing remarks for the 2021 conference, was led to nursing to better understand and care for her child who had a debilitating illness. But she has since used her experience and position to help many other immigrants, particularly of Korean descent, to learn about their healthcare options, schedule appointments and talk to someone who understands their struggles.

Jones experienced firsthand the extraordinary care nurses provided during her daughter’s short life, who died tragically from complications of a neuromuscular disorder at age three. “Becoming a nurse was a life-altering change for me and took me on a path that I am grateful for every day,” Jones said. “I believe that my daughter’s passing and the challenges that I faced throughout my life made me more passionate about paying it forward through community services and striving to be compassionate and empathetic when taking care of my patients.”

Conference Keynote Featured Celebrated Nurse Kathleen Winston, PhD, RN, Dean of University of Phoenix College of Nursing

Kathleen Winston, PhD, RN, and the dean of the College of Nursing at University of Phoenix, provided the keynote address for the conference. Her presentation was titled “Nurses: The Original Superheroes.” Winston was recently named a finalist for an ATHENA Award from the Greater Phoenix Chamber and is a recognized leader in the nursing profession. She has over 30 years of career experience as a clinician, educator and academic dean. 

Winston has also played an important role in shaping policy and curriculum standards through her work with the National Institutes of Health and the California Healthcare Workforce. University of Phoenix Provost John Woods, PhD, has called Winston “an extraordinary mentor and advocate for up-and-coming nurses and nursing educators alike.”

Available Online Nursing Degree Programs at University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix has a well-established nursing degree program with a number of affordable and flexible options. Students can learn online in programs that emphasize both theory and contemporary practice including evidence-based practice, quality and patient safety and leadership. 

Degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). All nursing programs allow students to complete their degree one online course at a time to accommodate their busy lives and schedules. In addition, the Nursing Bridge Program at University of Phoenix can enable working nurses with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field to finish their MSN degree program faster.  

About the Overseas Korean Nurses Association

The Overseas Korean Nurses Association was established in 2011 following a meeting of Overseas Korean Nurses in Seoul, South Korea. The Association seeks to promote unity and networking among Korean nurses living overseas and to provide information to overseas Korean nurses’ organizations. The Association plays a role in unifying Korean nurses, supporting their professional advancement and promoting the nursing profession to Koreans living outside the country.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is committed to providing affordable, accessible higher education opportunities for working parents and adults. This includes online nursing degree programs that prepare students for careers in the high-demand field of nursing with flexible course options to fit into busy schedules. Degree options in the University of Phoenix Online Nursing Program include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as well as a Nursing Bridge Program to help working nurses accelerate their path to an MSN.

Whether interested in nursing or other careers, University of Phoenix provides a pathway for working adults to realize their academic goals with convenient schedules, online learning options, financial support and scholarships, transfer credit opportunities and dedicated staff to help students complete their degrees programs.